Army Pfc. Luigi Marciante, Jr. , Sept. 20, 2007

Circumstances: Killed by an improvised explosive device in Muqdadiyah.

file photo

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Date: 2007/09/2

MARCIANTE Cpl. Luigi Marciante, 25, killed in action in Iraq

OBITUARY

United States Army Corporal Luigi Marciante Jr., 25, of Brick, N.J., was killed in action in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, on Sept. 20, 2007.

Luigi was born Nov. 10, 1981, in Elizabeth. He was a beloved husband, father, son, and hero to all who knew him. He was renowned and cherished for his love of life, sense of humor and uncanny ability to bring happiness to every life he touched.

Physically gone but not forgotten, our lives are richer having known him, and his presence will sustain us forever, not only in our hearts but in the eyes of his son.

Luigi is survived by wife, Stephanie (Busby) Marciante, and his newborn son, Lorenzo, both of Brick, N.J.; parents, Maria and Luigi Marciante (proprietor of Larry's Generator, Elizabeth, N.J.), of Jackson; two brothers and one sister, Accursio and his wife, Maria, of Union, Raniero and his wife, Renee, of Folsom, Pa., and Enza and her husband, Richard Jacobowitz, of Jackson. He had many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances.

A wake will be held for all those who wish to attend Thursday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Corsentino Home for Funerals, 620 Second Ave., corner of John Street, Elizabeth, N.J. Those wishing to attend the funeral should be at the funeral home at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, thence to St. Anthony's R.C. Church, Elizabeth, where at 10:30 a.m. a Funeral Mass will be held, with a burial following at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, Arnytown, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Lorenzo Anthony Marciante and forwarded to Bank of America, c/o Maria S. Marciante, 1050 Raritan Road, Clark, N.J. 07066.

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Date: 2007/09/23

War claims new dad from Jackson

Newlywed came home for birth of son in August
By JONATHAN CASIANO
STAR-LEDGER STAFF

Forty-three days ago, Pfc. Luigi Marciante Jr. stood in his Jackson home and basked in the glory of his newborn son, Lorenzo.

A newlywed four months into his first Iraq tour, Marciante had been given an 18-day leave so he could return home for the birth. The Elizabeth native soaked in every minute with his new son.

When he donned his fatigues again on Aug. 23 for his flight back to Iraq, Marciante could only talk about when he'd be able to return home for good, raise his son and fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.

"He had nice big dreams for himself," Marciante's older sister, Enza Jacobowitz, also of Jackson, said yesterday. "When he was able to come home to see his son be born it was just wonderful."

Marciante was killed Thursday in Muqdadiyah, about 50 miles northeast of Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

He is the 85th service member with ties to New Jersey to die in Iraq since the United States launched its invasion in March 2003.

The youngest of four children, Marciante was born in Elizabeth where his father, Luigi Marciante Sr., owned an auto supply shop on Elizabeth Avenue.

He loved club music, and after graduating from Elizabeth High decided to try his hand at deejaying.

Described by his sister as a "giant teddy bear" with a larger than life personality, "DJ Luigi" was soon spinning records under the strobes at some of New Jersey's top dance spots, including Club Abyss and Deko Lounge, both in Sayreville.

But what Marciante really wanted was to be a cop.

His father had been a police officer in Italy before immigrating to the U.S. and Marciante had long dreamed of following in his father's footsteps.

The Army seemed like a good place to start.

"He was 21, having a great time deejaying . . . but Louie really wanted to take a different direction in life," Jacobowitz said. "I really feel that when he joined the Army it gave him a lot of purpose and a lot of direction."

While assigned to Fort Lewis, Marciante met his future wife, Stephanie, a Brick native who was an Army MP. The couple married last summer.

In April, when Stephanie was five months pregnant, Marciante was deployed to Iraq.

He took his new mission in stride, but relatives said he was keenly aware of the dangers.

He longed to be by his wife's side and cherished the regular letters he'd get from friends and family.

"We always said he knew he was very loved on mail day," Jacobowitz said.

When he returned home in August for Lorenzo's birth and baptism, he talked about how his life had suddenly changed and confided to family his fear about returning to battle.

"He did say it was scary, he did say it was dangerous, and he was afraid. . . . He just had so much to lose, so much to think about with his son just being born," Jacobowitz said.

Yesterday, an American flag was taped to the door of Larry's Generators Inc. in Elizabeth, his father's auto parts shop, along with a simple white sign announcing Marciante's death.

In Jackson, his family gathered to mourn and make arrangements for Marciante's burial.

Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony's of Padua, the community church in Elizabeth Marciante and his siblings were raised in.

A date has not been set.

Jacobowitz said her parents were "beyond devastated," but proud of their youngest son's sacrifice.

"My dad is so proud of my brother that he chose to wear the uniform and follow the path he was going to take," Jacobowitz said. "He wasn't this 21-year-old club kid anymore. . . . He was becoming this man who was doing something really great. . . . We're really lucky we had him."

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COPYRIGHT (c) The Star-Ledger 2007

Date: 2007/09/29
Correction: This story about the funeral for Army Cpl. Luigi Marciante incorrectly stated the date Marciante was killed in Iraq. He died Sept. 20.

Elizabeth's heart aches for its hero

Italian neighbors turn out to bury soldier who gave his all in Iraq war
By JONATHAN CASIANO
STAR-LEDGER STAFF

Jeff Buchanan, a member of the Patriot Guard, salutes during Marciante's funeral. The all-volunteer Patriot Guard serves as an honor guard during funerals for soldiers killed in Iraq. As the funeral procession wound its way through Elizabeth's heavily Italian Peterstown neighborhood, white-haired men crowded sidewalk corners, women in curlers leaned out apartment windows and Catholic schoolchildren in crisp blue uniforms stood at attention holding miniature American flags.

Even old-timers at the meat market put down their espresso to pay respect as the funeral procession slowly made its way through.

It seemed nearly all of Peterstown came out to say good-bye to Army Cpl. Luigi Marciante Jr. yesterday, a local son now regarded by many as a local hero.

Marciante, 25, was killed Aug. 20 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. A member of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, he is the 85th service member with ties to New Jersey to die in Iraq since the beginning of the U.S. invasion in 2003.

A former club deejay with a quick wit and broad smile, Marciante was laid to rest yesterday morning with a funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua, the same church he and his siblings attended as children growing up in the city. He was buried alongside fellow soldiers in the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, Burlington County.

The mourners began gathering early in the morning at the nearby Corsentino Home for Funerals, where Marciante's flag-draped casket was flanked by black and white photos of the soldier cradling his newborn son Lorenzo.

Later at the church, with Gov. Jon Corzine, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and other dignitaries seated in the front pew, speakers described a young man who found his purpose in the Army and touched those around him with his kindness, selflessness and humor.

Even with a new bride at home and his first son on the way, Marciante didn't hesitate to face the dangers in Iraq when deployed in April, they said. And when he was called back from leave just two weeks after Lorenzo's birth in August, Marciante willingly returned to war, impressing everyone who knew him with his courage and dedication to duty.

"We can take great comfort knowing . . . he leaves for each of us a tremendous legacy. A legacy of strength, of pride, of laughter, of courage and especially of love," said Deacon Joseph Caporaso in his sermon. "Luigi . . . taught us a very valuable lesson, a lesson of loving despite whatever comes our way."

Army Maj. Gen. David Huntoon said Marciante was an "outstanding soldier" and a "patriot" who understood the difficult mission of fighting a war while rebuilding a country. Calling him "a good kid who just wanted to serve his country," Huntoon presented Marciante's family with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, a pair of high military honors awarded for exceptional bravery.

"His family has said that he was in the Army to become a better person, but Louie also made the Army better," Huntoon said. "His devotion to his fellow soldiers and his humility, his strong sense of duty and his courage made all of us better."

But the most stirring remarks came from those closest to Marciante. Standing at the lectern as a group, Marciante's relatives talked about the music-loving jokester with the perfect eyebrows and insatiable appetite.

His wife Stephanie, a former Army MP from Brick, fought through tears to read a poem about sacrifice, while his older brother Accursio Marciante reminisced about the little boy who grew into a proud man with a family of his own.

As the bagpipe corps moved into position to play "Amazing Grace," Marciante's sister Enza Jacobowitz gave words to the sentiment held by those in Peterstown yesterday.

"How can a person consciously sacrifice as he did and not be an outstanding person?" Jacobowitz said. "He is my hero. He should be all of our heroes."